Under his new director-of-coaching hat, McKenzie said the stability in the 30-man Reds squad would only work as a positive.

"The beginning of pre-season is always an exciting period and pleasingly for us, we commence our 2013 preparations with an almost identical playing roster to last year," McKenzie said.

"Our group still remains one of the youngest in Super Rugby but we have never enjoyed anywhere near this level of cohesion entering previous seasons.

"It can only prove beneficial as we continue implementing new strategies and building on our current structures of play."

The first official day of Reds pre-season training today at Ballymore was more like a roll call of where players were at in their recovery from injuries.

"Yeah, the rehab group have their own team song and logo," McKenzie quipped.

Wallaby halfback Will Genia (knee), Test skipper and lock James Horwill (hamstring), and flyhalf Quade Cooper (knee) are the most prominent on the list. Backrowers Jake Schatz and Ed Quirk, halfback Nick Frisby and winger Rod Davies are all on the mend after shoulder reconstructions.

The Reds do have a less dynamic look in the pack with Test flanker Scott Higginbotham a major loss to the Melbourne Rebels. Lock Van Humphries has retired.

Recent Test winger Dom Shipperley has also undergone the wrist surgery that prevented him being considered for next month's Wallaby tour of Europe.

Owen played for Sydney University (2007-09) and Randwick (2010). He played eight games for the Brumbies in 2011 to start his Super Rugby rise.

The Reds are targetting a record-setting 40,000 members for next season.

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